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Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with the US and other allies to send Ukraine Patriot missiles after Washington approved a $95bn aid package for Kyiv to fight the Russian invasion.
The Ukraine president said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities.
“We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them," he told the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries gathering virtually in a Pentagon-led meeting.
"This is what can and should save lives right now."
Earlier, Ukraine withdrew its American-made Abrams battle tanks from the frontline over concerns they can be easily detected and targeted by Russian drones.
Kyiv has lost five of the 31 Abrams tanks given to it by the US to Russian attacks since October last year. Ukraine had engaged in a months-long campaign arguing that the tanks, which cost about $10m apiece, were vital to its ability to breach Russian lines.
The US is expected to announce that it will provide another $6bn in long-term military aid to Ukraine, US officials said, adding that it will include much sought after munitions for Patriot air defence systems.
Key Points
- Zelensky pleads with US to send Ukraine Patriot missiles
- Putin ‘churning out’ rockets and tanks with help of China - US
- Ukraine pulls US- provided Abrams tanks from front lines over Russian drone threats
- US expected to provide $6bn to fund long-term weapons contracts for Ukraine
- Russia has deployed nuclear warheads in Belarus, Minsk says
- At least seven wounded in Russian air attack on Kharkiv, governor says
ICYMI: Russia attacks Ukraine’s rail lines to disrupt supply of US arms, source says
Russia is targeting Ukrainian rail lines with airstrikes to disrupt the delivery of desperately needed US weapons to the front and complicate military logistics, a Kyiv intelligence source said on Friday.
On Thursday, Ukrainian rail infrastructure was targeted by Russian strikes in the eastern Donetsk region, northeastern Kharkiv region and central Cherkasy region, the national rail company said.
The attack in Donetsk, which is the main focus of Russia’s offensive in the east, killed three electrical mechanics working for the railway company and wounded four more, it said.
In Kharkiv, which borders Russia, a strike hit the railway station in the city of Balakliia, injuring 13 people, including three rail workers, officials said. The town of Balakliia was liberated from Russian forces in 2022.
Ukrainian officials seldom provide detailed statements about strikes on sensitive military targets, but the Ukrainian intelligence source confirmed to Reuters there had been attacks on rail infrastructure aimed at disrupting the supply of weapons.
“Also, the overall complication of our logistics,” the source added.
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 22:00 1714161640ICYMI: Ukraine pushes to get military-age men to come home. Some neighboring countries say they will help
Ukraine’s foreign minister doubled down Friday on the government’s move to bolster the pool of fighting forces by cutting off consular services to conscription-age men outside the country, saying it was a question of “justice.”
Foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said the policy would ensure men in Ukraine and those who have left were both treated fairly.
“It’s about justice - justice in the relationship between Ukrainian men abroad and Ukrainian men inside of Ukraine,” he said.
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 21:00 1714158001ICYMI: Zelensky presses the US and allies for Patriot missiles, expected in new $6bn aid package
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv needs Patriot missiles to create an air shield against further Russian missile attacks, and it’s likely he’ll get them in an additional $6 bn aid package expected to be announced by the US as soon as Friday.
Zelensky discussed the need for Patriots early Friday at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, a coalition of about 50 countries gathering virtually in a Pentagon-led meeting. His address marked the second anniversary of the group, which has “moved heaven and earth” since April 2022 to source millions of rounds of ammunition, rocket systems, armored vehicles and even jets to help Ukraine rebuff Russia’s invasion, defence secretary Lloyd Austin said at the meeting.
The meeting was expected to focus largely on air defense systems, Austin said.
Zelensky said at least seven Patriot systems are needed to protect Ukrainian cities. “We urgently need Patriot systems and missiles for them,” Zelenskyy said. “This is what can and should save lives right now.”
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 20:00 1714154401ICYMI: Russian attacks wound four in northeastern Ukraine, local officials say
Russian guided bombs struck an industrial facility and a residential building in northeastern Ukraine on Friday, wounding at least four people, local officials said.
Three children and a woman were hurt when bombs hit a central part of the town of Derhachi in the Kharkiv region, governor Oleh Syniehubov said on the Telegram messenger.
Two bombs struck an industrial facility in the Sumy region, regional authorities said, but gave no further details.
The two neighbouring regions border Russia and have suffered frequent aerial attacks since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The strikes have become more intense in recent weeks, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure.
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 19:00 1714150801ICYMI: Russia files hundreds of drone patents as ‘global arms race’ ramps up
Drone patents have soared across the world amid a “new arms race” for the technology’s use on the battlefield, experts have warned.
Data from the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) showed patents filed for technology related to drones surged by 16 per cent between 2022 and 2023.
Full report:
Russia files hundreds of drone patents as ‘global arms race’ ramps up
China, Russia and the US are among the top five countries developing the technology, new figures show
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 18:00 1714149001Polish and Lithuanian leaders oversee military drills along their shared border
Polish President Andrzej Duda said Friday that “a potential aggressor must see our readiness” as he and his Lithuanian counterpart monitored a joint military drill along their shared border.
Duda and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda met on the last day of the week-long Brave Griffin 24/II military exercise along the Suwalki Gap, a strategically important stretch of land that’s considered a potential flashpoint area in case of a standoff between Russia and NATO.
Full report:
Polish and Lithuanian leaders oversee military drills along their shared border
Polish President Andrzej Duda says “a potential aggressor must see our readiness” as he and his Lithuanian counterpart monitored a joint military drill along their shared border
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 17:30 1714147157In full: Ukraine pushes to get military-age men to come home. Some neighboring countries say they will help
Ukraine’s foreign minister doubled down Friday on the government’s move to bolster the pool of fighting forces by cutting off consular services to conscription-age men outside the country, saying it was a question of “justice.”
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the policy would ensure men in Ukraine and those who have left were both treated fairly.
Full report:
Ukraine pushes to get military-age men to come home. Some neighboring countries say they will help
Ukraine’s foreign minister has doubled down on the government’s move to bolster the pool of fighting forces by cutting off consular services to conscription-age men outside the country
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 16:59 1714145983Two dead in Russia strikes on Sumy
Two people have been killed and three injured in Russian strikes on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, the national police said.
The city is close to the Russian border and has suffered frequent aerial attacks since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
The strikes have become more intense in recent weeks, hitting civilian and energy infrastructure.
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 16:39 1714144427
Advance of Russian troops west of Avdiivka has accelerated in past week - MoD
The advance of Russian troops west of Avdiivka in the Donetsk Oblast region has accelerated within the past week, Britain’s Ministry of Defence has said.
“Russian Ground Forces have created a narrow salient further into Ukrainian territory to enter the town of Ocheretyne, located approximately 15km north of central Avdiivka,” the MoD said in a statement.
Read it in full below:
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 16:13 1714141272Russia attacks Ukraine’s rail lines to disrupt supply of U.S. arms, source says
Russia is targeting Ukrainian rail lines with airstrikes to disrupt the delivery of desperately needed US weapons to the front and complicate military logistics, a Kyiv intelligence source said on Friday.
On Thursday, Ukrainian rail infrastructure was targeted by Russian strikes in the eastern Donetsk region, northeastern Kharkiv region and central Cherkasy region, the national rail company said.
The attack in Donetsk, which is the main focus of Russia’s offensive in the east, killed three electrical mechanics working for the railway company and wounded four more, it said.
In Kharkiv, which borders Russia, a strike hit the railway station in the city of Balakliia, injuring 13 people, including three rail workers, officials said. The town of Balakliia was liberated from Russian forces in 2022.
Ukrainian officials seldom provide detailed statements about strikes on sensitive military targets, but the Ukrainian intelligence source confirmed to Reuters there had been attacks on rail infrastructure aimed at disrupting the supply of weapons.
"Also, the overall complication of our logistics," the source added.
Matt Mathers26 April 2024 15:21 Newer1 / 7Older
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